Former Disney, Baby Einstein Execs Introduce Children To Global Wonders

Bringing children "a wonderful world of cultural discoveries," the award-winning former executive producer of Disney's BABY EINSTEIN and former vice president of Disney Interactive Studio's -- Learning is launching Global Wonders.

Global Wonders is a new children's multicultural education and entertainment brand to introduce children to the customs, music, languages and lifestyles of friends next door and around the world.

Global Wonders was created by Rashmi Turner, a working mother and former executive at The Walt Disney Company who previously led marketing, communications, and educational productions for The Baby Einstein Company.

As the executive in charge of production and executive producer of more than 16 award-winning BABY EINSTEIN titles, Turner is credited as one of the top three producers of infant DVD content worldwide.

The goal of the new Global Wonders brand is to inspire children to learn more about themselves and others while empowering them with self-confidence, social skills, and a greater understanding and enriched appreciation of today's global society.

"By highlighting the beauty in cultural similarities and differences across common, everyday experiences, Global Wonders helps initiate positive dialogue about one's own heritage and a curiosity and understanding of other cultures and backgrounds," said Turner.

"We have developed a brand that is both authentic and developmentally appropriate, working with early education experts to incorporate best practices into the content," continued Turner. "But the most important element is that our content is fun and entertaining for all children, and we're excited to have a world-class team of children's entertainment talent creating original music, stories and all-new characters for Global Wonders."

The Global Wonders series of products, launching this fall, initially will include DVDs, music CDs, flash cards and online games.

Each DVD program, created for children 2-7 years, will include new music, animated characters, personally relevant cultural themes, and authentic sights and sounds from around the world; all written and performed by experts and specialists in children's education and entertainment.

Among the elements unique to Global Wonders' content are "Language Jams," participatory musical segments introducing new vocabulary, and "WonderVision," an interactive play-mode offering deeper learning into the many cultural wonders with a simple click. Additionally, each DVD title features culturally authentic music, original compositions and unique sing-along songs.

The Global Wonders creative team includes writer Sindy McKay, a two-time Emmy winner including 2006 Outstanding Animated Program for her work on JAKERS!, and whose work includes CLIFFORD THE BIG RED DOG; character designer and art director Ed Wexler, a 20-year veteran of Disney animation (LITTLE EINSTEINS, MY FRIENDS TIGGER AND POOH); and music composer, Jim Latham, also an Emmy winner whose work includes original songs, themes and underscore for children's programming (JOJO'S CIRCUS, DRAGON TALES, DISNEY PRINCESS: A CHRISTMAS OF ENCHANTMENT).

Among the expert contributors to the Global Wonders brand is developmental expert and educational advisor J. Kevin Nugent, Ph.D., founder and director of the Brazelton Institute at Children's Hospital in Boston and faculty member of Harvard Medical School in the Department of Pediatrics.

Nugent's contributions to the Global Wonders brand include research findings on child development phases and the development of friendships including ethnic/cultural awareness among young children. His expert opinions and analysis of each Global Wonders story treatment have been incorporated into the final scripts and related educational products.

Also joining Global Wonders and formerly from The Walt Disney Company are Dave Burchianti, vice president of marketing and brand development, and Danielle Melcher, vice president, production. Burchianti has grown multi-million dollar consumer and entertainment brands for Nestle and Disney, and also brings start-up experience, having launched a venture-backed digital media distribution company and an Internet-based promotions and marketing services company. Melcher was a producer for The Baby Einstein Company's award-winning titles and also was responsible for content-related relationships with key toy and licensing partners.

Burchianti said, "Social skills are critical for young ones, and we believe it starts with understanding and appreciating yourself, others, and the world around you. With today's classrooms being 50 percent multicultural and with the world becoming more and more globally connected, these skills are more critical than ever, making Global Wonders a brand whose time is now."